Hanuman Ansh Co-Producer Reveals Bollywood Insiders Apologized

• Hanuman Ansh was made on a budget of less than Rs 2 crore and has amassed a worldwide gross of Rs 366.45 crore.
• Co-producer Anupriya Nagar stated that multiple Bollywood figures initially refused to invest during post-production.
• Early ticket sales slumped, causing the film’s screen count to drop from 300 to 30 by its eighth day before rebounding.
• Several producers who declined early participation have since reached out to apologize and congratulate the team.
• The devotional drama is directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, stars Shobinaw Satyaa, and is inspired by Neem Karoli Baba.

Hanuman Ansh co-producer Anupriya Nagar has said several people in Bollywood initially declined to invest in the devotional drama, with some later contacting her to apologise after the film’s strong box-office performance.

Nagar, 21, joined the Vishal Chaturvedi-directed film during post-production. Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, she said the team had approached several potential investors to fund post-production but struggled to secure support despite the relatively small amount required.

“Since the beginning, even before I came on board, the Hanuman Ansh team had gone to many people for investment for post-production, but nobody agreed to invest, even though it wasn’t a very big investment,” she said.

Nagar said the film’s modest budget, first-time director and relatively new actors contributed to the industry’s initial reluctance.

“Before the release, there were a handful of people who supported us, but many people didn’t believe in the project. They thought it was a small-budget film, the director was making his first film and the actors were also new. They thought the film would come and go. People didn’t have that belief,” she said.

Producers later contacted the team

According to the figures cited in the supplied reports, Hanuman Ansh was made for less than ₹2 crore and has grossed ₹331.70 crore in India. The second report puts its domestic net collection at ₹280.93 crore and worldwide gross at ₹366.45 crore.

Nagar said the film’s commercial performance changed the response from some people who had previously declined to participate.

“Lots of producers have reached out and it is very sweet. They have congratulated us. Some of them have actually come to me and said, ‘First of all, I apologise because this film had come to us. We are sorry we couldn’t join you. That was the biggest mistake I made,’” she recalled.

She said some industry members also told her the film had demonstrated the potential of a small production.

“They said, ‘You have made us realise that a small film can do so much. You have given a lesson to the industry.’ They told us, ‘Whatever you want, we are with you,’” Nagar said.

Despite the earlier lack of support, Nagar said she did not hold the decisions against those who had declined.

“I don’t blame them because it was a very small film,” she said.

Film’s difficult start

The film’s early theatrical run was also challenging. Nagar recalled that its screen count fell from about 300 to 30 by the eighth day. The second supplied report says she had considered leaving the film industry and returning to Zurich when the film was struggling, although the materials do not provide further details about that decision.

Hanuman Ansh is directed by Vishal Chaturvedi and stars Shobinaw Satyaa. The devotional drama is inspired by the life of Neem Karoli Baba and explores faith, devotion, compassion and selfless service.

The supplied reports do not specify the names of the producers who allegedly apologised to Nagar or provide independent box-office documentation beyond the figures cited above.